Reorganization of the First Presidency: President Heber J. Grant

IMPROVEMENT ERA

Vol. XXII JANUARY, 1919 No. 3

Reorganization of the First Presidency

Following the death of President Joseph F. Smith, on No-

vember 19, and his burial in the City Cemetery, November 22,

1918, the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints was disorganized and the Council of Twelve

Apostles became the presiding quorum of the Church. Since

the death of President Wilford Woodruff, it has been custom-

ary to reorganize the First Presidency at the earliest date con-

sistent following its disorganization.

After the deaths of Joseph Smith the prophet, and Pres-

idents Brigham Young and John Taylor, considerable time

elapsed before the First Presidency was again organized. Be-

fore President Woodruff's death, he expressed a desire that

thereafter this condition should change, and hence, the First

Presidency has since been reorganized without delay.

In conformity with that custom, a special meeting of the

Council of Twelve Apostles convened in the Temple, Salt Lake

City, Saturday morning, nine o'clock, November 23, 1918, for

the purpose of reorganizing under the inspiration of the Lord,

the presiding quorum of High Priests of the Church. There

were present Heber J. Grant, Anthon H. Lund, Rudger Clawson,

George Albert Smith, Charles W. Penrose, Orson F. Whitney,

David O. McKay, Anthony W. Ivins, Joseph F. Smith, Jr., James

E. Talmage, Stephen L. Richards, and Richard R. Lyman, also

the Presiding Patriarch, Hyrum G. Smith.

Elder Heber J. Grant, president of the Council of the

Twelve since Nov. 23, 1916, was unanimously sustained presi-

dent of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and

was blessed and set apart for that position by President Anthon

H. Lund.

President Grant then chose President Anthon H. Lund to

be the first counselor in the First Presidency, and President

Charles W. Penrose to be the second counselor. They were both

set apart for their positions by President Grant.

188 IMPROVEMENT ERA

President Anthon H. Lund, senior member of the Council

of the Twelve, was sustained as president of that Council, and

was set apart by President Charles W. Penrose.

Elder Rudger Clawson was sustained as acting president of

the Council of the Twelve, and was set apart by Elder Orson

F. Whitney.

President Grant was also sustained as Trustee-in-Trust for

the body of religious worshipers known as the Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Heber Jeddy Grant,

Who was thus chosen to the exalted position of President of the

Church, is the son of Jedediah Morgan Grant and Rachel Ridge-

way Ivins. He was born on the 22nd day of November, 1856,

in the Thirteenth ward, on the lot where the Z. C. M. I. is

now located, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His father in his day

was one of the most enthusiastic and most zealous workers in the

Church; and his mother was one of the bright and noble

heroines of Zion.

President Grant is the only son of his mother, but has a

number of brothers and sisters who bear his father's name. He

is the thirty-third apostle chosen in the Church, its seventh

president, and the first man born in Utah who was chosen a

member of the Twelve; also the first native son who has oc-

cupied the position of President of the Church. It is a strange

coincidence that President Francis M. Lyman, whom he suc-

ceeded as President of the Twelve, and President Joseph F.

Smith, whom he succeeds as President of the Church, were both

buried on his birthday anniversary, the former in 1916, and

the latter in 1918. He was chosen to succeed the former on

November 23, 1916, and the latter, November 23, 1918, the day

following his natal day, his sixtieth and sixty-second anniver-

saries respectively.

President Grant's first act in his new position will be hailed

with great satisfaction by all the members of the Church — it

was the choice of his counselors — the wise, the true, the tried

and experienced leaders, Presidents Anthon H. Lund and

Charles W. Penrose, men of unbounded integrity and stability

of character, so well known that their names need only be men-

tioned to receive immediate and unanimous approbation.

With President Grant's force and determination, and with

such men as his advisers, his administration will be noted for

continued growth and development, not only in spiritual affairs,

but also in temporal matters. Energy, perseverance and per-

sistence are characteristic of his whole life, in whatever he

undertakes.

REORGANIZATION OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY 189

He is pre-eminently a business man, but there is not a man

in all the Church who has more regard for its spiritual welfare

than Heber J. Grant. His admiration for and obedience to his

brethren who have occupied the position he now holds have

dominated his whole career. He believes implicitly in the in-

spiration of the Lord which has guided them in all their affairs.

He is liberal to a fault, helpful, sympathetic, with heart and ears

attuned to every righteous need and cause. As a business man,

he not only promptly fulfils his promises and keeps his appoint-

ments, but aims to give value received for all he obtains; and as

an employer treats all who work for him with liberality, respect

and consideration.

His successful services on financial missions for the Church

are well known. His energy, determination, and his belief in

work as a winning virtue, are inspirations to all who come to

know him. These characteristics are prominent in all the mis-

sions he has filled — secular and religious. Among the latter is

one to Japan, and one to Great Britain and Europe, in both of

which he presided over the missions. When he sets out to win,

he is determined to obtain the goal, taking genuine pleasure in

laboring to accomplish results. How he received his testimony

as an apostle of Jesus Christ, was given in his stirring talk at the

last October conference, and printed in the December Era.

It is so in all his efforts. When he once sets out to do a

work, there is no relaxation until it is finished. He has implicit

faith in the divinity of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints, a faith founded more on the inspiration of the Holy

Ghost, answer to prayer, and the goodness of God to him, to the

Church, its leaders and members, than from any extended doc-

trinal study, or technical knowledge of its theology or phi-

losophy.

What was said of him by the writer in a biographical sketch

seventeen years ago, is even more characteristic of him today,

for he has grown with the years in every noble quality named:

"Apostle Grant is tall, erect in figure, with prominent features which

indicate energy and push. His desire to aid others ha9 given him a dis-

position to feel for his fellows, and there is not a man in Zion with a more

loving, helping heart than has Heber Jeddy Grant. One of his traits, which

is worthy of emulation, is his determination to overcome obstacles and

defects that stand in his way to the perfection of his character. When he

discovers a fault in himself, he endeavors by persistent and continued

effort, such as only few are capable of, to overcome. And thus his life is

growing better as the years increase, and will continue until his ideal of

perfection, which enlarges with his deeper knowledge, shall be reached.

He has gained the love, respect and confidence of his frinds and business

associates; and the authorities of the Church impose in him the fullest

trust. He is an active worker in the cause of God, and has learned to

feel the keenest delight in his labors among the Saints. He loves the youth

of Israel, and in his sermons frequently addresses his earnest remarks to